Go Lightly. For home, for life, for planet » Events

Eat Good or Need Surgery! Get It? “Forks Over Knives.”

jen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:09:57 +0000

“This movie made me want to become a vegetarian.” “This movie changed my life. “You have to see this film” These are real quotes that Go Lightly customers have said about Forks over Knives.

“FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods.” The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. Both researchers found that populations that consumed low amounts of animal products were less likely to develop degenerative diseases. This film chronicles Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s application of the idea of food as medicine Throughout we see “reality patients” with chronic conditions from heart disease to diabetes learn how to adopt a whole-food, plant-based diet as the primary approach to treat their ailments. You can see the trailer below.

I love that more people are becoming aware of the benefits of organic plant-based diets. I went vegan when I was 15 and everyone thought I was crazy- now they are asking for my help to assit them going vegan. People are getting that plants really are where it’s at. Diseases are reversed- or better yet, prevented! – energy is returned, and a plant-based diet is even better for the planet. Imagine how the world can change! Forks Over Knives tells it like it is and backs it with hard science. Now This Friday, February 3 you can see the film at a special local screening starting with a raw, vegan food tasting and followed with a panel discussion. Go and join the conversation that is changing lives!

Seating is Limited so Reserve early!

Go Lightly is here to help further improve the health of this world by offering 100% plant-based food options made fresh to order. We proudly serve raw nut-based sandwiches, hearty organic soups and salads, green juices and smoothies, and other entrees and deserts, including hemp-based non-dairy ice cream. We are open for lunch or a mid-day snack from 10am- 6pm Monday-Friday and 10-5 Saturday, and closed Sunday except for special events.

And speaking of special events, we are hosting a Valentine’s Day Raw Food Dinner Tasting with Live entertainment. Stay Tuned for details or call or email for information: 973-744-7889, hi@golightlystore.com.

And if you are on Facebook or Twitter, be sure to join us there for menu updates and other timely information.

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Mother (Earth)- Approved Places for Mom’s Day Brunch

jen — Wed, 04 May 2011 18:16:56 +0000

The first thing I think of when I think of celebrating Mother’s Day is brunch. What better way to celebrate Moms and our shared Mother Earth than by dining at an establishment whose menu reflects respect for the Earth by serving only organic plant-based cuisine? Here are my three favorite restaurants that have the most divine culinary creations and good vibes to go with.

Kaya’s Kitchen 1000 Main St. (corner of 10th), Belmar, NJ.
Kaya’s has soups from a traditional French Onion (vegan) to Thai Coconut Sweet potato, seitan rib and tempeh buffalo wing appetizers, and veggie burgers and pizzas done in about any style you can imagine, entrees like jambalaya and grilled gluten steaks with simmered veggies and mashed potatoes. They are offering a special Mother’s Day menu.

Sprig & Vine Just over the Jersey border at 50 Union Square Drive, New Hope, PA
Sprig & Vine has such inventive brunch dishes as halved grapefruit brulee soup, tofu Benedict, cranberry apple french toast, an a caraway crusted tempeh reuben. I am still dreaming about their watermelon gazpacho with avocado sorbet that I had there last summer!

The Rutherford Pancake House 40 Park Avenue, Rutherford
the Rutherford Pancake House is your good old Jersey-style pancake house but they have an extensive vegan menu. From vegan pancakes (of almost any flavor or toppings, that caramelized pear is one), to delicious tofu-scrambles, and veggie burger sliders, and vegan quesidillas- this is a perfect place for omnivores and veggies to dine together in joyous harmony. And just down the street from them is Sweet Avenue Gourmet Vegan Cupcakes where you can get treats like banana chocolate chip truffles, tirmisu cupcakes, and gluten-free brownie balls.

And for after brunch, Go Lightly (yours truly) now serves vegan ice cream by the scoop. Flavors include strawberry balsamic, peanut butter fudge, cinnamon raisin cookie and lots more. All dairy-free made with hemp, soy, and coconut milk. Gluten-free and nut-free choices always available. WE ARE OPEN 11-4 on Sundays (with extended hours for summer coming soon!)

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Respect the Water!

jen — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:13:03 +0000

At the time of this writing it is World Day for Water. Ooops, I missed posting about it ahead of time, but hey, it’s always a good day to think about water—something we use so much that it’s easy to take for granted. In 1992 the UN General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water as a way to bring awareness to the fact that water resources are facing increasing demands from, and competition among, users. I won’t go into the grim facts about how 2 out of 10 humans in the world do not have access to clean drinking water, and how many children die every day from this sad fact. We have enough gloomy news to contend with these days.

But what I will do is hopefully encourage you to respect and honor the clean water that we in this country are so fortunate to have. After all, water-related problems are not an issue in just developing countries. Drought and pollution from runoff from lawn chemicals and industries such as animal agriculture can make safe water scarce even in America. We are facing a time when we need to be prudent with everything we use, and water is no exception. Adopting certain habits now can save us some discomfort later. Here are ten ways to use water wisely so none of this precious resource is wasted:

Never ever let water run unnecessarily, like when brushing your teeth or shaving.
Never buy bottled water—it takes three times the amount of water to make one bottle of water.
Soap up with the water off, then rinse. This goes for the shower, and when washing dishes. You can get a trickle valve for your shower and sink faucet that makes it easy to slow the flow of water while you soap up.
Keep a bucket in the shower to catch the water that you run waiting for the temperature to warm up. Use that water for plants or to flush the toilet (pour it in the back of the tank.)
Fix leaks fast. (Sometimes a leaky faucet can be stopped simply by turning water on full blast for a second and shutting it off.)
Avoid meat. Every pound of meat you don’t consume saves as much water as if you didn’t shower for six months!
Don’t waste food. Food needs tons of water to grow. When you waste food you waste water too.
Wash veggies and fruits in a bowl filled with water instead of running water.
Don’t water your lawn. Use nutrient-rich compost to make your lawn healthier and it won’t need to be watered.
Only wash clothes when they really need it. Spot clean, and wear items more than once when possible.

There are tons of other ways to save water. What will you do?

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Make it Happen: Vision Board Workshop

jen — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:04:25 +0000

When asked what made me open Go Lightly, I really don’t have a short answer.The roots that fed the idea are dispersed and far-reaching but one thing that was focused and consistent was what I wanted my life to look like once the store was open. I wanted to be more involved with my community, expand my connections to like-minded people, and have more face time with my daughter. And sure enough, I got exactly what I wanted.

I didn’t know it at the time, but I was using the universal law of attraction BIG TIME. I dreamed and envisioned what I wanted and some how, some way, that vision was born.

Our visions do have power. After all, everything that exists was born from an idea, a spark, in someone’s mind. I love the idea of taking these visions and actually creating a physical chart that will serve as a guide- a map- to bring them to manifestation. Stefanie will show us how to create and use a Vision Board as a tool to keep our dreams in sight and help them see the light.

DATE: Tuesday, March 1, 2011
TIME: 6:00- 9:00 pm
COST: $35.00 cash or check preferred. Credit card if necessary.
RSVP: hi@golightlystore.com or 973-744-7889

PLEASE RSVP for this event only if you are sure you can come. We have limited space and we’d hate to turn anyone away because the workshop is full, then have people not show up. Thank you.

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NJ to take BIG stand against poisoning our kids: PLEASE SIGN PETITION!

jen — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:23:26 +0000

Something exciting is happening in New Jersey. A new bill is being advanced that will prevent kids from being poisoned at schools and parks. Millions of pounds of lawn pesticides are dumped on school and park grounds, exposing highly susceptible kids to the harmful effects of these chemicals. Add to that the amount of industrial pollution in our state and we may have an answer to the question of why New Jersey has higher than average rates of autism, learning disabilities, and asthma.

Many towns throughout New Jersey ban the use of pesticides in schools and parks, but there is a group of diligent New Jerseyans who are working hard to expand the ban across the state. Eliminating the use of these dangerous chemicals is a first step in creating a cleaner, healthier world. The NJ Environmental Federation and concerned parents, physicians, municipal and school officials, and organic landscapers testified at the Senate Environment Committee hearing in support of this legislation. The bill would prohibit lawn pesticide use on all day care, school, municipal, county, and state playgrounds and playing fields, except when there is an immediate threat to human health.

The next step is to make sure this bill is heard on the Senate floor and we need YOUR signatures on this petition to show that we care about the important issue. Please take a moment to sign here and add your voice.

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Melliser Will Be Here Soon!

jen — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:38:11 +0000

Melliser Elliott will be signing copies of her new book:
The Vegan Girl’s Guide to Life
from 1pm-3pm

at Go Lightly this Sunday November, 21.

The book to have for any vegan girl. Learn cruelty-free crafts, recipes, beauty secrets and more. Us vegan girls have to stick together and share these things!

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No, really. It’s important to Shop Local!

jen — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:53:04 +0000

Montclair, New Jersey is celebrating everything local and independent by kicking off Indie Retailers Week Oct. 2- 9. Enjoy in-store events, discounts, and exclusive promotions from over 80 retailers. Check out Go Lightly’s calendar of events and Shop Local Montclair for some unique opportunities to help support the shop local movement! Come experience Montclair, a great town representing the benefits of a small, walkable, and diverse community.

Do you really know why it is important to support local independent stores? Well one reason is that approximately 45% of the money you spend in independent stores stays local through city taxes, employees’ wages, and purchase of materials and supplies at other independent businesses instead of going to some far-off mega-corporation that frequently is given tax breaks by the city they are in. It may seem that big-box stores employ more local people, but when you take into consideration that small local businesses tend to hire other local professionals such as architects, designers, cabinet shops, sign makers, contractors, accountants, insurance agents, real estate agents, computer consultants, attorneys, advertising agencies, and others you see that when you support local businesses, you are supporting more than just the folks in the shop! Local retailers and distributors also carry a higher percentage of locally made goods than the chains, creating more jobs for local producers and reducing transportation pollution.

When mega-chain stores replace more and more independently owned stores, town after town begins to seem like a cloned replica of some unimaginative corporate-structured model town. Unique, individual communities are lost, and variety and diversity is in peril. We may think small stores offer only a small range of goods, but when there are many small stores, choice is actually increased when compared to the choices made by a few buyers working for a national chain.

For a long time our country as a whole has believed that bigger was better. But the fate of our future as a planet, and as communities of people will be saved by transitioning back to smaller, local systems. As energy costs soar and our national security becomes less certain, we will need to have local sources of goods and food in place and thriving. Going back to basics is not about going backwards, it’s about learning what is sustainable and what is not and being realistic about what works. It may seem like a small thing, but shopping local and encouraging local retailers to carry local goods will ensure prosperous, healthy, self-reliant communities throughout our nation.

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Change is in the Air! “Green Dot” Sale

jen — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:13:08 +0000

It’s been two and a quarter years since Go Lightly opened and what a two and a quarter years it’s been! I have been learning, and adjusting, and making mistakes, and finding out new things all the time. Best of all, I have been blessed with a wealth of new friends and a delightful community that has developed around this little store.

Even in just the last two and a quarter years I have witnessed great changes in the way people shop and the changes in people’s attitudes. I have seen changes in what people are drawn to and changes in priorities. I have seen a huge growth in the green products market and I am very proud to be a part of that growth. To that end, it is my goal that as the needs and wants of the world changes and grows, Go Lightly will change and grow with it.

With that said, in order to make the changes we need, we need to make room in our store and our budget! We are having a “GREEN DOT” liquidation sale where many great things are on sale for half-off the original price. Just look for the “GREEN DOT”on items throughout the store.

Now is the time to get that item you have had your eye on, or pick-up some early holiday gifts. Everything is negotiable – in fact I LOVE negotiating!

This sale will run throughout the month of September.
Please understand, some newer items or those on consignment are not on sale.

ALSO UNTIL SEPTEMBER 13 RECYCLED BACKPACKS and NAKED BINDERS are 30% off!

I am hopeful for the future of Go Lightly and I look forward to bringing you more wonderful products and items from truly green manufacturers and more wonderful workshops by people who have important information to share with people hungry for that information.

Stay tuned for updates as some big changes come and I greatly look forward to continuing to grow with you!